Luggage accessory

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed herein a luggage accessory for use with a conventional suitcase or attache case. A pair of like, generally rectangular, zippered bags having substantially the same side contour as the suitcase are connected together at the bottom inner edges thereof by a flexible web. The suitcase is disposed on the web between the zippered bags, and overlapping flaps carried at the upper inner edges of said bags project over top of the suitcase and are detachably connected to each other around and through the suitcase handle.

United States Patent [191 Honan 1 Sept. 24, 1974 LUGGAGE ACCESSORY [76] Inventor: Bernard M. Honan, 46 Riverdale,

Tuscaloosa, Ala. 35401 22 Filed: Dec. 13,1971

21 Appl. No.: 207,183

[52] US. Cl 190/52, 190/44, 190/60 [51] Int. Cl. A45c 13/00 [58] Field of Search 190/41, 44, 52, 60; 224/43, 44, 47

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 796,286 8/1905 Botteese 190/52 2,813,602 11/1957 McArthur 190/60 3,061,057 10/1962 Miller 190/44 3,729,038 4/1973 Ekeson 150/52 E Primary ExaminerWilliam I. Price Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. Garbe Attorney, Agent, or FirmJ. H. Slough [57] Y 7 ABSTRACT There is disclosed herein a luggage accessory for use with a conventional suitcase or attache case. A pair of like, generally rectangular, zippered bags having substantially the same side contour as the suitcase are connected together at the bottom inner edges thereof by a flexible web. The suitcase is disposed on the web between the zippered bags, and overlapping flaps carried at the upper inner edges of said bags project over top of the suitcase and are detachably connected to each other around and through the suitcase handle.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures LUGGAGE ACCESSORY This application relates to luggage accessories and particularly to accessories for use with a substantially rigid carrying case such as a conventional suitcase or attache case.

Prior luggage of this general type known to the applicant incorporates strapping an attachment to the side of a suitcase, the use of folded flexible walls which can be released to expand the capacity of a case, the provision of a rigid companion section for mechanically latching to a rigid primary carrying case, and the provision of open sided units for flexible hand luggage which can be zippered to the side of a basic luggage unit. All of these prior forms, except the first mentioned type, necessitate the provision of an especially adapted main or base unit, are expensive to manufacture, and require more or less complicated and inconvenient manipulation. Examples of the above luggage will be found in the following US. Pats: No. 1,171,678, G. D. Trotter, Feb. 15, 1916; No. 3,061,057, C. S. Miller, Oct. 30, 1962; No. 3,319,744, W. N. Smith, May 16, 1967; and No. 3,443,671, H. G. Dyke, May 13, 1969.

The present invention is a luggage accessory adapted to be used with a conventional suitcase, attache case, or similar hand baggage and comprises a pair of preferably mirror-image, side-by-side luggage units. Bottom connector means connect the units to each other across the bottom of the suitcase andtop connectormeans connect said units to each other across the top. One of said connector means, preferably the top connector means, is detachable whereby the accessory can be quickly and easily removed from the suitcase or attached thereto.

A primary advantage of the luggage accessory of the present invention is its adaptation for use with a suitcase or attache case of conventional design without changes to the case. Additionally, the invention affords the user two added compartments where like articles can be logically isolated. For example, if the luggage accessory is combined with an attache case, a traveler can readily separate toilet articles and articles of clothing from papers and documents. Upon arriving at his destination, a business man can simply remove the accessory and be immediately prepared for a conference or business call pertaining to matters contained only in the attache case. The traveler still has only one piece of luggage to carry, and the inventor has found that when adapted for use with an attache case, the side units can be of substantially generous width and yet will fit beneath a standard airliner seat. Thus for short trips, the business man can go prepared to stay overnight without the risk of lost luggage.

Another advantage of this invention is that the accessory may be sold separately for use with existing suitcases and also in combination with matching suitcases. As used in the present specification and claims, the term suitcase" is deemed to refer broadly to hand carried baggage, brief cases, attache cases, and the like. The accessory is particularly adapted for use with rigid suitcases but may be used with nonrigid luggage having sufficient stiffness in the handle region to support the side units.

The general object of this invention is to provide an improved luggage accessory'for use with conventional suitcases.

Another object of the invention is to provide a luggage accessory which provides a plurality of separate compartments for readily isolating like and complementary articles.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a luggage accessory as set forth above which is readily and quickly detachable from the suitcase and does not require modification of the suitcase.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a luggage accessory having the above features and characteristics the principle of which is readily applicable to suitcases of varying sizes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plurality of luggage units which can be conveniently carried as a single unit.

Other objects of the invention and additional advantages thereof will be readily understood from the following description of one embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the luggage accessory of this invention showing the manner in which it is assembled with a conventional suitcase;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation showing an intermediate step in the assembly of the luggage accessory and suitcase;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the luggage accessory and suitcase fully assembled; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the fully assembled luggage accessory and suitcase.

Referring now to the drawings in all of which like parts are designated by like reference numerals, and referring particularly to FIG. 1, the luggage accessory of this invention is generally indicated at 10 and is adapted to be used in conjunction with a suitcase or attache case 11. As herein illustrated, the suitcase 11 is rectangular in shape and is preferably of the rigid type having a hinged lid 12 secured in the closed position by conventional catches 13 and having an upwardly projecting inverted U-shaped handle 14.

The accessory 10, in the embodiment herein illustrated, comprises a pair of mirror image luggage units 15a and 15b ofpreferably flexible material such as leather, cloth, or sheet plastic. The luggage units 15a and 15b are generally rectangular in shape with the upper corners slightly rounded as indicated at 16a and 16b to facilitate the use of zippers 17a and 17b, respectively, for opening and closing the units. The bottom inner edges of the luggage unit 15a and 15b are connected together by means of a short, preferably flexible web 18 of substantially the width of the suitcase 11. The luggage units 15a and 15b are provided at their upper inner edges with trifurcated flaps 19a and 19b each having three inwardly projecting straps 20a and 20b, respectively. The straps 20a and 20b are of such length that they are adapted to overlap across the top of the suitcase 11 and are provided with complementary, snap type fastener portions 21a and 21b, respectively, for detachably securing them together.

As indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 1, the suitcase 11 is adapted to be placed between the luggage units 15a and 15b upon the bottom web 18. As shown in FIG. 2, said units are then folded upwardly parallel with the sides of the suitcase as indicated by the arrows A whereby the trifurcated flaps 19a and 19b will overlap the top of the suitcase and each other to bring the com plementary fastener portions 21a and 21b into alignment. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the centermost straps 20a and 20b project through the handle 14 with the two pairs of flanking straps 20a and 20b overlapping just beyond either end of the said handle. This leaves the handle free to be used in the ordinary manner without interference and assures that the luggage units 15a and 15b cannot slip lengthwise of the suitcase.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the luggage accessory of this invention provides two distinct, separate compartments wherein like or complementary articles such as clothing, towels, etc. can be isolated and that the same can be readily attached and carried unitarily with a conventional suitcase, attache case, or the like. The convenience to a business man, professional man or salesman when travelling is obvious. He need only carry a single piece of baggage and upon arrival at a hotel can quickly and easily separate his business papers, legal papers, or samples which are carried in the suitcase 11 from his toilet and clothing articles which would be carried in the accessory 10.

As hereinbefore stated, the accessory 10 as herein illustrated is preferably made of a pliable material. This would be generally less expensive than a pair of rigid metal or fiber luggage units and is generally quite satisfactory for packing clothing. It also affords the advantage that the same can be folded up and carried inside the suitcase 11 when it is not needed. However, it is contemplated that the luggage units 15a and 15b and their associated webbing l8 and flaps 19a and 19b could be made of other than flexible material. Also, it is anticipated that the fasteners 21a and 21b of the straps a and 20b, respectively, may be of any suitable type.

It will be understood that many changes of the details of the invention as herein described and illustrated may be made without, however, departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a conventional suitcase of generally rectangular shape and substantial thickness having top, bottom, side, and end walls; an accessory comprising a pair of luggage units of substantially the same shape and size as said suitcase having top, bottom, side, and end walls, said top, bottom and end walls of said units disposed generally coplanar with said top, bottom, and end walls of said suitcase when assembled therewith, each said luggage unit affording a complete enclosure for isolating like and complementary articles; each said luggage unit having means providing a closable access opening at least in said top wall of the unit; a web member having a length substantially equal to the thickness of said suitcase connecting the inner lower edges of said luggage units to each other across the bottom of said suitcase; and detachable connector means disposed at the inner top edges of said luggage units whereby said units are detachably connected to each other across the top of said suitcase for easy separation of the luggage units from said suitcase, said connector means having means providing access to said handle, said last mentioned connector means comprising inwardly projecting, trifurcated flaps carried at the upper inner edges of said luggage units, each flap having three straps, the straps of each said flap adapted to be detachably connected to the straps of the other flap in pairs across the top of said suitcase; two of said pairs of straps being disposed beyond the ends of the suitcase handle and one pair being disposed through the handle. 

1. In combination, a conventional suitcase of generally rectangular shape and substantial thickness having top, bottom, side, and end walls; an accessory comprising a pair of luggage units of substantially the same shape and size as said suitcase having top, bottom, side, and end walls, said top, bottom and end walls of said units disposed generally coplanar with said top, bottom, and end walls of said suitcase when assembled therewith, each said luggage unit affording a complete enclosure for isolating like and complementary articles; each said luggage unit having means providing a closable access opening at least in said top wall of the unit; a web member having a length substantially equal to the thickness of said suitcase connecting the inner lower edges of said luggage units to each other across the bottom of said suitcase; and detachable connector means disposed at the inner top edges of said luggage units whereby said units are detachably connected to each other across the top of said suitcase for easy separation of the luggage units from said suitcase, said connector means having means providing access to said handle, said last mentioned connector means comprising inwardly projecting, trifurcated flaps carried at the upper inner edges of said luggage units, each flap having three straps, the straps of each said flap adapted to be detachably connected to the straps of the other flap in pairs across the top of said suitcase; two of said pairs of straps being disposed beyond the ends of the suitcase handle and one pair being disposed through the handle. 